Apparatus for the treatment of external surfaces of cans



A. M. OLSON May 27, 1952 APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EXTERNAL SURFACES OF CANS 4 Sheets-She et 1 Filed Dec.

ALBERT M. OLSON BY M675 %Zw4- ATTORNEY y 27, 1952 A. M. OLSON 2,597,946

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EXTERNAL SURFACES OF CANS s fiiled Dec. 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALBERT M. OLSON INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 4 A. M. OLSON 2,597,946

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EXTERNAL SURFACES OF CANS Filed Dec. 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ALBERT M. OLSON INVENTOR.

Tram/Er May 27,1952 A. M. OLSON 2,597,946

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EXTERNAL SURFACES 0F CANS Filed Dec. 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/GS.

ALBERT M. OLSON IN VEN TOR.

y ATTORNEY Patented May 27, 1952 APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EXTERNAL SURFACES OF CANS Albert M. Olson, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 20, 1946, Serial No. 717,498

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for the drying and treatment of cans and other containers being generally of circular cross section. In present canning practice cans are filled with comestibles, sealed and are heated so as to sterilize their contents. Next the cans are cooled in apparatus such as that disclosed in prior U. S. Patent No. 2,348,440 granted May 9, 1944. Subsequent to this operation the cans are labeled and packaged prior to shipment or storage.

In older and less advanced processes the cans are labeled and packaged immediately after sterilization or after they have been cooled down to about 120 F. Accordingly, there is no need for apparatus to remove the moisture from the cans, as it quickly evaporates under the influence of the very high temperatures. In the subsequent storage of these packaged cans it has been found that an elevated temperature of approximately 100 F. may be maintained for a month or more. This elevation of temperature is responsible for the breakdown of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and further produces taste defects in the comestibles.

It has been found in the treatment of some comestibles, particularly the citrus products, that if the product be cooled immediately after sterilization,the food value, the vitamin content and the storage life without taste defect, is enhanced to a great degree. These methods have been applied with a great deal of success with the aforesaid mentioned apparatus. However, since the comestible will be cooled down to a temperature, which is substantially at 70 F., to insure the named benefits, a film of moisture is retained on the cans when they are removed from the cooling apparatus. For the moisture will not evaporate quickly after the cans are cooled down to the point which is most beneficial to the quality of the comestible.

The cans are generally cooled by means of rotation in a liquid bath, and a film of moisture is found adhering to the external surfaces of the cans when they are removed therefrom. This retards the labeling operation as the cans must be dry for the proper afiixing of labels and is consequently a reason for increased cost and impeded productivity in the canning industry. Most of the label binders used in the canning industry today are lacquer-like and have a resinous base. These binders are not miscible with water. Therefore, it is apparent that all moisture must be off the external surfaces of the cans prior to labeling. Frequently it is found necessary to entirely disrupt the straight line methods of food processing in order to remove the external moisture from the cans in order to render them ready forlabeling. Further, attempts have been made to produce an apparatus to remove surface moisture, but these machines have been only partly effective in the past and in consequence have retarded production to a point where their use has been discarded.

Also it is a very important aspect of canned food merchandising to have an attractive container. During the aforesaid mentioned steps of sterilizing, cooling, and handling the cans are apt to become covered with lime deposits or other foreign material which mar their appearance and are not conducive to sales appeal. This inventionovercomes these problems in an. entirely facile manner, for: s

It is the object of this invention to provide apparatus which will facilely remove moisture from the surfaces of the containers of circular cross section.

It is further the object of this invention to provide apparatus which may be readily integrated into canned food production lines to remove moisture from the surfaces of the containers.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus to continuously-remove moisture from containers which are conveyed in a stream with longitudinal axes aligned.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus which will remove moisture from the surfaces of the containers of circular cross section without damage to said containers.

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus to remove moisture from the surfaces of cylindrical containers which may be adapted to function in said manner or which may be rendered inoperative without disrupting a canned food production line.

Another object of this invention is to produce a can free from surface moisture which is attractive in appearance.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus which will quickly remove foreign matter from the external surfaces of cans.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which will rapidly perform the above mentioned effects.

Other objects will appear in the reading of the following specification and in study of the divers views.

Referring to the figures of the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment is illustrated. The same reference numerals designate like parts throughout the views.

*2'0 and "2 l at: each end of the machine. ba 'noted thatthe longitudinal axis of the sup- Fig. l is a plan view of the improved apparatus partly broken away to show its internal arrangement.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 -is "an end view of the apparatus in Fig. 2 at the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1 it isapparent-that the apparatus I0 is integrated into the conveyer system i l of a canned food production line. The ease of this adaption is apparent as the incoming conveyer l2 and the outgoing conveyer [3 are placed adjacent the inlet and outlets respectively of the apparatus-ill.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the machine It is mounted on an incline relative to the frame it and is covered with a pleasing appearing housing 15 which has functional purpose'which willbe-noted later on. --As noted in-Figs. 1 and 2 the brush 15 and the roller I! are mounted with their longitudinal axes in parallel relationship. The roll l1 and'the brush Iii' a're rotated in the instantembodiment at about 1200 R. P. M., energy'being supplied by the motor 18 attached to the frame i4; this is connected by means of a conventional belting arrangem'ent 29 to the 'roll'and brush respectively.

It will be noted that theirotation of the roller '1 'I i's'clockwise in Fig. 4 as is the rotation of the "brush ltgand cans- 21 -thus'rotate in a counterclock-wise direction.

Placed between the' brush lfiand the-roller ll is the supporting member l9. This member is shownin Fig/ 3 as being :a "circular wooden 'element. :However, divers "other :materials are suitable, and theshape may be either 'square 0r The supporting any other convenient shape. ine'mbe'r l9 is attached "to adjustable brackets It will porting member' l9 is'in angular relationship-to the longitudinal axes of the brush lfiand the 'roll H.

The distance betweenthe driving roll I! and thebrush 16 "can be varied. This is by reason of the adjustable mounting "of the brush l6 and can:beappreciatedby reference'to Figs. land 4. The roll 11 :is:-also adjustably mounted to the brackets 26' and 21 which are-affixed to the frame "[4. Said roll iscovered with'a pliable 'resilient material which may be rubber as in 'the-instantembodiment. In the instant embodiment'the machineis adjusted to accommodate e -404's: 700 or No.-3 tall can; this-can is 4%" in diameter by '7" long. The brush l6 isarranged so that the bristles -0f said brush are deflected at thepoint-ofi-contact shown at 20',

whentheapparatus-is -operating. 'Such an adjustment may be accomplished-when the machine is not operating-by adjusting the roll and brush so that the bristles are substantially free of the surfaces of the can; then during the operation of-the apparatus the high speed of rotationof said brush causes the bristles to radially extend and contact the cansas shown in Fig. 3. In the-disclosedv embodiment of the invention the roll I? and the brush [6 are both rotated at approximately'1200 'R. P. M. during normal operation. Thus it is apparent that the cans -2l entering the machine are moved forward through themachine in a helical manner. Also, the external surfaces of the can are swept free "of' the' brush" and roll 'so -a's-to prevent erratic movement'of the cans as they engage said brush and roll; also a longitudinally extending guard rod 3i; further serves the same purpose.

The moisture is removed from the brush by mcans of centrifugal action and the action of stripping elements, disposed about diiferent portionsof its periphery. The blade 22 (See Fig. 3)

is-dispose'd along the length of the brush at its lower portion in parallel relationship; as the bristles pass this element, the moisture is removed therefrom. Also disposed adjacent the upperportions of the brush the baffle and channel member 23 is arranged to collect moisture which is thrown from the brush and convey it away from said'cans and to'further remove moisture from said bristles. The shielding -15 about the entire a'pparatus prevents any splashing so that adjacent apparatus in .a canning plantare not afiected in'any manner. 'The'bottom of the apparatus is open so that water"removed from the cans and brush may fall-to the'floor and bedrawn off without further affecting ithe'cans. the cans 2i leave theco'nixeyor 12,:theyare-moved along at spacedrrelations'hip through the apparatus; thus there is no opportunityfor.the'rapidly "rotating :cans to -damage one another. :Meanwhile .centrifugaltaction occasioned by -the: rapid rate 10f rotation :of said Jeans and i the brushing action lo'f the dry iibrush effectively :remove the surface liilmiofnn'oistureifrom' the rcans; whereupon theie ansi-areideposited on thesoutgo'ingrconveyer lt anid'fare' sped awayidry landiready for immediate l'abeling. "further, because rof the wiping action :of the brush is .the :icans-are cleansed and somewhat ipolish'ed as lthey pass through the machine; this permits *an attractive appearing can to be produced.

The helix angle between the: can :roll 'I i .%and the supporting member 1 91m Ithis embodiment is 5. Therefore, i in con'sidering the speed of? rotation of said r'olliitis apparent-that?thismachine will effectively dry 125 cans "fof the aforesaid mentioned size per minute.

'Another importantelement of this invention is that its function-as 'a drier "may be readily terminated'should the food line be'put'to'r-other processes which wouldnot 'entailthe drying of cans priortol'abeling, i. e.,-if canned come'stibles were tobe'heated and stored while -hot. 'This would be accomplished simply by .moving'the brushlt'away'from'thedry roll I! whereupon tliemachine' functions as part of the conveyer H. This feature enables economical canning plant operation.

The helix angle between the supporting member t9 and the-roll I 1 has been found' tobe at the optimum of 5in' the embodiment herein described. However, inadjusting the machine for divers size cans' this angle :maybe substantially varied within the range of 2 to 10to secure optimum operating conditions. The 'drivingroll 1'! in the instant'ernbodiment is '-3 i;'in diameter, and the" cleaning brush I6 is approximately 10' in diameterfthese elementsmay'be varied to conform to individualconditionsand operation.

In operation it has been discovered that the machine operates best when the incoming canned comestibles are at a temperature near the dew point of water; generally 70 F. is satisfactory. Also the brush i6 and the roll IT are best arranged when their longitudinal axes are about from the horizontal. This permits the angular arrangement of the entire machine and allows for the ready withdrawal of water, an example of which is the disposition of the baiile and channel member 23 and the stripping element 22.

In the foregoing manner the cans pass through the machine at a very rapid rate, are cleansed and dried and ready for the next step of labeling.

Further, another use which is extremely beneficial to the food canning industry is apparent when it is considered that some comestibles are introduced into cans when they are hot (on the order of 200 F.). Before the capping and sealing of these cans a portion of the comestible overflows and dries very quickly on the peripherical portion of the cans. The dry comestible can be removed only with great difi'iculty, if at all, in modern canning practice. Thus the aforesaid mentioned sterilizing apparatus may become polluted with the comestible with apparent results. If the above disclosed apparatus be integrated between the sealing and sterilizing apparatus, the comestible is readily removed when water or some other suitable solvent is sprayed from a nozzle 3| onto the containers, as shown in Fig. 5.

This invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated; as variations of it will occur to those skilled in the art; hence, it is to .be

6 member to remove moisture from said brushing member, and conveying'means to remove said containers.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the axis of the rotatable brushing means and the axis of the rotating drive'member are arranged substantially at an angle of 5 with said supporting member.

4. An apparatus for treating containers of circular cross section comprising, conveyer means arranged to deliver said containers with their longitudinal axes aligned, a supporting member for said containers, adjacent rotatable brushing means arranged in angular relationship to said supporting means, an adjacent rotatable. drive member arranged parallel to said brushing means so that containers moving-between said brushing means and said drive member have changing portions of their peripheries contacted by said brushing means and said rotatable means-where'- by said containers are forwardly advanced and rapidly rotated while peripherial surface moisture and foreign material is swept free of said containers, means to rotate said brushing means and said drive member, a parallel troughed baffle membertarranged immediately contiguous said brushing means whereby matter impelled from said brushing means is conducted away from said containers, and conveying means to remove said.

containers.

5. An apparatus for removing moisture from the external surfaces of can comprising, conveyer means arranged to deliver a series of cans having their longitudinalaxes aligned, a supporting member for said cans, adjacent rotatable brushing means arranged in angular relationship arranged to deliver said containers with their Q longitudinal axes aligned, a rod-like member for supporting said containers, said member being disposed parallel to the direction of travel of said containers, adjacent rotating brushing means arranged in angular relationship to said supporting means, an adjacent roller member arranged parallel to said brushing means so that containers moving between said brushing means and sa d roller member have changing portions of their peripheries contacted .by said brushing means whereby said containers are rapidly advanced and rotated between the roller and brushing means while peripherial surface moisture and foreign material is swept free of said containers, means to rotate said brushing means and said roller member, and conveying means to remove said containers.

2. An apparatus for removing moisture from the external surfaces of cans comprising, cor veyer means arranged to deliver said containers with their longitudinal axes aligned, a supporting member for said containers disposed parallel to the direction of travel of said cans, adjacent rotary brushing means arranged in angular relationship to said supporting member, an adjacent rotating drive member arranged parallel to said brushing means at a point removed therefrom so that containers moving between said brushing means and said drive member have all portions of their peripheries grazed by said brushing means whereby surface moisture is removed, means to rotate said brushing means and said drive member, stripping means contacting said brushing member extending the length of said to said supporting memberjan adjacent rotatable drive member arranged parallel to said brushing means so that cans moving between said brushing means and said drive member have all portions of their peripheries grazed by said brushing means whereby surface moisture is removed while the cans are impelled through said apparatus, means to rotate said brushing means and said drive member, stripping means contacting said brushing member extending the length of said member to remove moisture from said brushing member, a housing substantially open on three sides covering said contacting elements whereby moisture removed from said cans is restrained from again contacting said cans, and conveying means to remove said containers.

6. Apparatus for treating containers of circular cross section comprising, conveyer means arranged to deliver said containers with their longitudinal axes aligned, supporting means for said containers disposed in the path of travel of said containers, adjacent rotatable brushing means arranged in angular relationship to said supporting means, an adjacent rotatable drive member arranged parallel to said brushing means so that containers may move between said brushing means and said drive member while said container are advanced through said apparatus and rapidly rotated, the peripherial foreign material meanwhile being swept free of said containers, means to rotate said brushing means and said drive member, guard means disposed adjacent said containers wherebyrerratic movement of said containers is restrained; and conveying means to remove said containers.

7. An apparatus for removing moisture from the external surfaces of cans comprising a support for said cans, means adjacent said support for rotating said cans-brushing means substananemia :tia'liy ttwiee ;the;;diameter ;oizsaid'eans contiguoiis :said supporting means arran'gedzparallel tor-said can rotating means whereby cans may passthere- :between, means .for rotating said can rrota-ting means a-nd -xbrushingimeans inzthe-samedirection attsubstantially 1200:.revo1utionsper minute, said supportibeingiangularlyrdisposeci with respect to said brushing means so that containers wiil be helicaily advanced by theraction of saidzbrushing "means and'said can rotating means onthe cans =as iforeign matter is-removed from their; surfaces.

3 *8. :In apparatus for removing foreign matter :fromithe externai surfaces ofoyiindrical contain- 5'615, the r-eom'bination oiv a stationary support en- :of :the containers whenilying on their sides; :a eontainerarotatmg .1011 :engageable by said -pe- .ripherai container wall, .said. rollbein-g laterally "displacedifrom and disposed 'substantiallyshigher than said support: a rotatable brush :disposed. in f'lateraiiy'. spaced relation to SaidTYO1Pt0 :provide a :'container-'receiving space therehetween above said support-the lines 'of :conta-ctnfthe roil'and fbrush with said containerwall beingsubstantialiyediametrically opposed; and means for rotating .said 'roliiand 'brush'whereby the roll inducesroegageablerbya iower portion of the zperipheral wali tation :of :the containers and the bII-HSh-JIBIHOVES the-foreign; matterifrom .the 'container esurfaces,

' 9. Apparatus aocordingto claim. 8, includingca strjpping element engaging the periphery. of the brush for. removing therefrom matter awhichrhas been transferred to the brush from. the contain ALBERT OLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of :recordzin :the file of this patent:

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574,355 Hitchcock Dec.,29,;.189.6 852,378 Baker Jan. 29, 1907 7 937,353 .Ackerman Oct. .19, 1909 1,415,258 Nelsen May.9,,1922 1&36/164 Sundh Nov. 21, 1922 1,537,625 Skinner '.May '12, 1925 1,633,216 Lakeman June.21,192'7 1,848,309 Brogden -.Mar. 8, I932 1,919,854 Masseau Ju1y25, .1933 2,139,318 Sibille Dec, 6, 1938 

